First published 2012
Augustus Whittlesby has perfected the art of terrible poetry. For ten years he has lived undercover in France, hiding secret intelligence inside verses so awful that French surveillance officers cannot stomach reading them closely. His cover works perfectly until Emma Morris Delagardie arrives to complicate everything. The American widow moved to Paris with her diplomat uncle, married a Frenchman, and now spends her days critiquing Augustus's poetry at her weekly salon. She drinks too much champagne and speaks too freely about his work. Augustus finds her meddling dangerous to his mission. When Napoleon accelerates plans to invade England, Augustus learns of a secret weapon to be revealed at a house party at Malmaison. He must uncover this device while maintaining his poet disguise. Emma becomes an unlikely ally in this race against time. Together they navigate Parisian society and imperial politics to prevent an invasion that could change the course of history.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, mystery, 19th-century
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: France, Malmaison, Paris
Period: 19th-Century, Napoleonic-Era
390 pages · Hardcover · Dutton Adult